Q: Am I considered a UK resident, and am I eligible to purchase a policy?
A: To purchase a policy, you must be a permanent resident of the United Kingdom and be registered with a UK general practitioner (GP). Because individual circumstances vary, please review our specific residency rules below:
General Residency Criteria
Defining a Resident: You are considered a UK resident if your main home is in the United Kingdom and you are registered with a UK GP at the time of any claim or loss.
What Counts as a "Main Home"? Your main home is the primary residence where you live for more than 6 months (183 days) out of the year and where your utility bills or official mail are sent.
Splitting Time Equitably: If you split your time equally between the UK and another country, you are considered a UK resident as long as you designate the UK as your main residence and your primary household bills are directed to your UK address.
Students, Visas, and Temporary Travel
University Students: If you are a student living temporarily at university (or nearby) but your permanent records are tied to your family home, you are fully eligible for cover. You can choose to input either your university address or your parents' address on the policy, depending on which you find most suitable.
Living on a UK Visa: If you are living in the UK under a visa, you can buy a policy provided your main home is currently in the UK, you are registered with a UK GP, and your visa does not expire within the 6 months following your policy's end date.
Traveling Abroad for Long Periods: If you have been physically traveling outside of the UK for more than 6 months at the time your policy starts, your coverage remains valid as long as your main permanent residency is still established in the UK and you maintain an active registration with a local UK GP. If you have spent less than 183 days in the UK over the last year and are unsure of your official legal status, we recommend reviewing standard government statutory residence tests or consulting a professional prior to declaring your UK residency to us.
Special Categories and Exceptions
Armed Forces Personnel: British Forces Post Office (BFPO) personnel posted overseas are treated as UK residents for leisure trips, provided the journey begins and ends either at their official BFPO address or within the UK.
Ineligible Regions and Statuses: We are unable to provide UK residency coverage to residents of the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands. Additionally, foreign au pairs or foreign nationals working temporarily in the UK do not qualify unless their primary, permanent main home is established here.
Please note: All cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, exclusions, and any applicable excess.